Play a bit of In the Hall… see if anyone remembers hearing it before??? (Zoo day – caterpillar/butterfly). After hearing The Tale of the Mountain King, students listen to the teacher read In the Hall of the Mountain King from Edvard Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite, and then play this beat keeping game. This is a lesson in teamwork, self control, coordination, keeping a steady beat, tempo and dynamic change, folk tales, and history of classical music.
Materials needed:
Recording of the In the Hall of the Mountain King from the Peer Gynt Suite by Edvard Grieg; approximately six beanie baby bags.
Sit the class in a circle and tell them the story of the Mountain King. After the story is told, listen to the music. Tell them that the music begins right after the unpleasant man wakes up in the dark forest. Interject where other key parts of the story are happening in the music - especially the chase! When the music ends, ask what happened to the music as the story progressed. (It got louder and faster.) Then tell them they they will listen to the music again, but this time they will be playing a game. Instruct them to pass the ball to their neighbor by putting the ball in their lap on the beat. This is really the only way to see a clear beat, passing hand to hand just doesn't do it as well. You might want to practice this with them before you start the music. (At this point, I would set some ground rules, such as if the ball is dropped,only the person it was meant for can go get the ball. This will prevent five or six of them diving into the circle!) Start the music and encourage them to listen very carefully for the beat. If they have trouble, it sometimes helps to whisper the word "pass" on the beat for them. Of course, when the music gets faster and faster, it gets harder to pass on the beat, let alone hear it, for all the squeals and giggles. Warn them about the part toward the end that sounds like the man tripping and tumbling. It is more of a challenge if you ask them to get the ball back in your hands before the last beat. If we play it again, add more balls to the circle.
Spring, Vivaldi
Vivaldi's Spring - Poem / Ribbons Materials: Antonio Vivaldi's "Spring" from "Four Seasons"; Colorful ribbon streamers; picture of Vivaldi
Introduce Vivaldi and show a picture of him. Talk about the signs of Spring. Students will listen to "Spring" and identify the signs of Spring in the song - with teacher's help if needed: trees, birds, trees river, trees, storm, trees, sun, trees, sun, trees
Divide students into 5 groups:
Trees (green)
Birds (red)
River (blue)
Thunderstorm (black / gray)
Sun (yellow)
Have students spread out in the room, staying in their groups. Have students discuss how their group can move their scarves - or streamers - so it looks like their group name (trees, sun, etc.). Start the music and call out the sections of the music. The groups only move their object when they hear the music for their group.
Assessment: Start the music again and do not call out the group names. If a group moves their scarves at the incorrect time, they sit down. At the end of the song, the groups remaining on their feet are winners!
1. This concerto has a feeling of: a. constant motion and change b. stillness -the music stays the same
2. What is the name of the family of instruments used in this concerto? a. brass family b. string family
3. Does the music gradually change from soft to loud or do the changes happen suddenly? a. gradually - using crescendos and decrescendos b. suddenly - using terraced dynamics
4. Is there any part of the music that sounds like the instruments are playing a round (imitating each other)? a. yes b. no
Carnival of the Animals
List of famous composers and a sample composition
Classics For Kids
In the Hall of the Mountain King, Peer Gynt
Peer Gynt ActivityPlay a bit of In the Hall… see if anyone remembers hearing it before??? (Zoo day – caterpillar/butterfly). After hearing The Tale of the Mountain King, students listen to the teacher read In the Hall of the Mountain King from Edvard Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite, and then play this beat keeping game. This is a lesson in teamwork, self control, coordination, keeping a steady beat, tempo and dynamic change, folk tales, and history of classical music.
Materials needed:
Recording of the In the Hall of the Mountain King from the Peer Gynt Suite by Edvard Grieg; approximately six beanie baby bags.
Sit the class in a circle and tell them the story of the Mountain King. After the story is told, listen to the music. Tell them that the music begins right after the unpleasant man wakes up in the dark forest. Interject where other key parts of the story are happening in the music - especially the chase! When the music ends, ask what happened to the music as the story progressed. (It got louder and faster.) Then tell them they they will listen to the music again, but this time they will be playing a game. Instruct them to pass the ball to their neighbor by putting the ball in their lap on the beat. This is really the only way to see a clear beat, passing hand to hand just doesn't do it as well. You might want to practice this with them before you start the music. (At this point, I would set some ground rules, such as if the ball is dropped,only the person it was meant for can go get the ball. This will prevent five or six of them diving into the circle!) Start the music and encourage them to listen very carefully for the beat. If they have trouble, it sometimes helps to whisper the word "pass" on the beat for them. Of course, when the music gets faster and faster, it gets harder to pass on the beat, let alone hear it, for all the squeals and giggles. Warn them about the part toward the end that sounds like the man tripping and tumbling. It is more of a challenge if you ask them to get the ball back in your hands before the last beat. If we play it again, add more balls to the circle.
Spring, Vivaldi
Vivaldi's Spring - Poem / RibbonsMaterials: Antonio Vivaldi's "Spring" from "Four Seasons"; Colorful ribbon streamers; picture of Vivaldi
Vivaldi_Spring_Poem.pptx
Introduce Vivaldi and show a picture of him. Talk about the signs of Spring.
Students will listen to "Spring" and identify the signs of Spring in the song - with teacher's help if needed:
trees,
birds,
trees
river,
trees,
storm,
trees,
sun,
trees,
sun,
trees
Divide students into 5 groups:
Have students spread out in the room, staying in their groups. Have students discuss how their group can move their scarves - or streamers - so it looks like their group name (trees, sun, etc.). Start the music and call out the sections of the music. The groups only move their object when they hear the music for their group.
Assessment: Start the music again and do not call out the group names. If a group moves their scarves at the incorrect time, they sit down. At the end of the song, the groups remaining on their feet are winners!
1. This concerto has a feeling of:
a. constant motion and change
b. stillness -the music stays the same
2. What is the name of the family of instruments used in this concerto?
a. brass family
b. string family
3. Does the music gradually change from soft to loud or do the changes happen suddenly?
a. gradually - using crescendos and decrescendos
b. suddenly - using terraced dynamics
4. Is there any part of the music that sounds like the instruments are playing a round (imitating each other)?
a. yes
b. no